What brings you to a convention?


Pathfinder Society


I'm curious as both a former convention organizer and PFS con organizer in my local area, what brings people to game conventions? For me, the first and foremost item is who is going to be there. If I've got friends in that area, I'll go to see my friends and help out. Second, I also like to meet new people, so I'll try a different convention from time to time if it's within driving range. Driving range for me tends to vary based on those two factors, along with the cost of the trip, mainly hotels and such as that's usually the biggest expense. For example, Gen Con isn't out of my range if I go as a tier 1 GM and have most expenses covered, and I make an effort to see many of my friends.

I know for some people, it's a matter of size, what games are offered, convention boons (if there are any) weather, and scheduling. I've also heard that people will make an extra effort to travel to a convention if the right names are scheduled in attendance, like going to Paizo Con to get a chance to meet their favorite Paizo employees, or Comic Con for some of the different panels of guests. What makes you go that extra mile for a convention?

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

2 people marked this as a favorite.

I enjoy Cons for a number of reasons. It's the whole package that attracts me:

  • Going to an "event". You're not just going to your regular gaming hole, you're going somewhere different. Somewhere bigger. Something that's being advertised. Something more exciting.
  • It's a "vacation". You're doing two or more days of nonstop gaming. That's an escape from reality. Gaming for just 4 hours is a nice release. Gaming for 4 days is a retreat.
  • Selection of scenarios. You can pick from a broader offering of games, increasing the likelihood that you have something to play. For those of us that've been around for years, that's sometimes the sole reason to go: having the ability to play something.
  • Modules. They're easier to schedule and find players for at a Convention. They usually are the first to fill up, and I always scan for modules first, so long as a Special isn't being offered that evening.
  • Meeting new people. This is largely why I got involved with PFS to begin with. Meeting new perspectives and getting new ideas for characters keeps me interested in organized play more than stagnant gaming groups.
  • A chance to represent your community. I'll put more effort into a Con experience and prep color cardstock maps and handouts that will make not only the Con itself memorable, but also me as a GM. I've had players that only game at Cons consistently sign up for my games year after year simply because they enjoyed what I offered. That's a good feeling.
  • Stuff to buy. Dice, t-shirts, food, bumper stickers. Cons are my chance to grab every geek item I need in one place.
...and I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting as well.

Dataphiles 3/5

Its a combination of a number of reasons both of you have mentioned for me: 4 days of gaming, seeing people I don't see on a regular basis, and selection. In addition I get to play characters I'm not usually able to play. My home group is small, and frequently varied in those it consists of which means we're constantly playing low tier scenarios to accommodate new people to the group. Attending a convention lets me play higher level characters.

Grand Lodge 3/5

All of the reasons people have already mentioned, they are all good ones. I just finished a local Con this weekend and ran my first special. I also ran the PFS HQ the last day. It was intense but a lot of fun, and I got a lot of GM/Playing in.

The Exchange 5/5

3 people marked this as a favorite.

"What brings you to a convention?"

for me, I would have to say often it's my wife. Unless I drive - but normally I am catching a nap and I just let her do the driving...

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 **** Venture-Captain, Minnesota

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I am thinking about attending Paizo Con for the first time next year, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me about Tier 1 GMing.

As to why I'm thinking of going, it's because of some of the wonderful people I've met in play by post. I'd love for a chance to meet them in person.

Dark Archive 5/5

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Maps Subscriber
Hmm wrote:

I am thinking about attending Paizo Con for the first time next year, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me about Tier 1 GMing.

As to why I'm thinking of going, it's because of some of the wonderful people I've met in play by post. I'd love for a chance to meet them in person.

Hi, I'm TetsujinOni and I Tier 1 GM a little bit. [g]

Tier 1 GMing at major shows like PaizoCon or GenCon can be a lot of fun if you are in love with GMing... But it can be a lot of work and hard as hell on your voice.

The free badge and bring your own hotel room option that PaizoCon has created in the past is far less compelling to me than GenCon (Tier 1 including a room is tremendous value for your time), and the focused availability of other like minded folks to hang out with at PaizoCon leads me to think that PaizoCon 2016 is a good show to NOT Tier 1 GM at unless GMing is Totally Your Favorite Thing.

Grand Lodge 3/5

Hmm wrote:

I am thinking about attending Paizo Con for the first time next year, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me about Tier 1 GMing.

As to why I'm thinking of going, it's because of some of the wonderful people I've met in play by post. I'd love for a chance to meet them in person.

I haven't done it myself, but several of my close friends have. Here's the sneak peak they gave me concerning their time as a GM...

  • You live in the ballroom: You get out at about 12:30, start around 7-8am, and get an hour (or a little less) per meal.
  • You get a free hotel: to share with 3 other people because they couldn't put cots in the ballroom.
  • You get a credit at their booth: I think it's 50+ bucks worth?
  • You get a shirt: yay shirt!
  • Everybody loves you: because they recognize that your commitment is bonkers and they appreciate it.
  • You get a boon to play the most recent highly restricted races: I've seen grippli, damphier, skinwalkers, and samsarans show up on these things.
  • You get about 6 hours to explore the con: make a shopping list!

That said, they do it because they love it. I don't think I could handle that, not with a wife that might play a half-dozen PFS games a year but who loves going to Gencon.

Dark Archive 5/5 5/5

Divvox2 wrote:
Hmm wrote:

I am thinking about attending Paizo Con for the first time next year, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me about Tier 1 GMing.

As to why I'm thinking of going, it's because of some of the wonderful people I've met in play by post. I'd love for a chance to meet them in person.

I haven't done it myself, but several of my close friends have. Here's the sneak peak they gave me concerning their time as a GM...

  • You live in the ballroom: You get out at about 12:30, start around 7-8am, and get an hour (or a little less) per meal.
  • You get a free hotel: to share with 3 other people because they couldn't put cots in the ballroom.
  • You get a credit at their booth: I think it's 50+ bucks worth?
  • You get a shirt: yay shirt!
  • Everybody loves you: because they recognize that your commitment is bonkers and they appreciate it.
  • You get a boon to play the most recent highly restricted races: I've seen grippli, damphier, skinwalkers, and samsarans show up on these things.
  • You get about 6 hours to explore the con: make a shopping list!

The bold sections are incorrect.

Paizocon does not offer free hotel rooms.

With the schedule change implemented last year the afternoon slots are open gaming, ie, there are no scheduled PFS games so every GM will have those slots free. There has been no word if this will remain or change for 2016.

Dark Archive 5/5 5/5

TetsujinOni wrote:
Hmm wrote:

I am thinking about attending Paizo Con for the first time next year, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me about Tier 1 GMing.

As to why I'm thinking of going, it's because of some of the wonderful people I've met in play by post. I'd love for a chance to meet them in person.

Hi, I'm TetsujinOni and I Tier 1 GM a little bit. [g]

Tier 1 GMing at major shows like PaizoCon or GenCon can be a lot of fun if you are in love with GMing... But it can be a lot of work and hard as hell on your voice.

The free badge and bring your own hotel room option that PaizoCon has created in the past is far less compelling to me than GenCon (Tier 1 including a room is tremendous value for your time), and the focused availability of other like minded folks to hang out with at PaizoCon leads me to think that PaizoCon 2016 is a good show to NOT Tier 1 GM at unless GMing is Totally Your Favorite Thing.

Hmm, Tetsujinoni speaks truth. Gencon is by far the more attractive option for a Tier 1 GM, but PaizoCon is its own brand of fun for different reasons. I was a Tier 1 GM at Paizocon the last three years running. This year I plan to play as much as possible and not GM at all if I can. I might allow myself to get roped into running the special, but that would be it.

But coming to either Paizo- or Gencon is a fun time because you get to meet folks like Tetsujinoni, who is a cool individual and someone you should totes track down and say hello to.

Liberty's Edge 5/5

Starfinder Superscriber
TetsujinOni wrote:

The free badge and bring your own hotel room option that PaizoCon has created in the past is far less compelling to me than GenCon (Tier 1 including a room is tremendous value for your time), and the focused availability of other like minded folks to hang out with at PaizoCon leads me to think that PaizoCon 2016 is a good show to NOT Tier 1 GM at unless GMing is Totally Your Favorite Thing.

Hello. My name is Rob Knop, and GMing is Totally My Favorite Thing.

(Well, I don't know if it is, but I like it.)

I did Tier 1 at PaizoCon last year. Exhausting, but also a lot of fun. I ended up having good groups of players each time. One thing that was fun was that 3 of the players at my "Serpents Rise" table had been at my "Siege of Serpents" table the day before.

I would recommend beelining for bed after the night scenario. If you're somebody who wants to hang out and drink late into the night, then probably Tier 1 isn't best for you. At PaizoCon last year (and presumably next year?), Tier 1 had you busy every morning and every evening except for the banquet evening. There's something to be said for taking the afternoon off between that, too. But, if you want to *play*, then that's the only time you get to do it.

It is very true that it's hard on your voice. I go a bit hoarse from a gameday, and the PFS room at PaizoCon is pretty loud. (Not as bad last year as it was the previous year, as the room was much bigger, but still loud.) Be ready and prepared for that. Drink lots of water.

The rewards aren't as big as GenCon. On the other hand, I don't know that I'd succesfully sleep in a room with 3 other people, and might be tempted to get my own room at GenCon anyway. It's expensive, but I really like having my own room to retreat to and get away from all the people. (Yes, GMing is my favorite thing, I love the gaming overload that is a con, but also I'm an introvert, at least sorta.)

I wouldn't recommend Tier 1 GMing the first time you go to a big con. I've known people who've done it succesfully. Myself, I did just a couple of scenarios the first time I GMed, and Tier 1ed the second time. It was nice to have some idea what I was getting into before doing Tier 1, from the less-intense experience of just GMing a couple of games.

Lantern Lodge 5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

What brings me to GenCon?

1) Scotty's Brewhouse
2) Chance to Meet New Friends
3) Chance to Meet Old Friends
4) Free Hotel/Badge
5) Indianapolis Indians Baseball on Sunday Afternoon/Evening
6) BigNorseWolf Complaining About Convention Rewards
7) Convention Rewards

Smaller Cons are different. Usually, you have to ask.

5/5 5/55/55/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.

PBthththththths

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 **** Venture-Captain, Minnesota

Thanks for all the feedback, guys. I do love GMing, but I love it as much as I love playing.

And I think my boyfriend would get grumpy with me if I didn't play at least one session with our paired characters with him... Huh. Maybe I should do a smaller GM subset for my first Paizo Con.

Dark Archive 5/5

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Maps Subscriber
Hmm wrote:

Thanks for all the feedback, guys. I do love GMing, but I love it as much as I love playing.

And I think my boyfriend would get grumpy with me if I didn't play at least one session with our paired characters with him... Huh. Maybe I should do a smaller GM subset for my first Paizo Con.

Do what feels comfortable. Don't feel bad if you miss the call for GMs and don't wind up in a GM tier for PaizoCon, either - there's lots to do and lottery games are way simpler if you're not trying to maintain your GM slots.

Also, there's almost always room to pick up slots at the end, if you're not relying on the free badge to afford the show. I hadn't planned to GM Siege of Serpents at the show, but Mike roped me in during the dinner break to cover him a Tier 1-2 table last year...

Paizo Employee 5/5 Contributor—Canadian Maplecakes

2 people marked this as a favorite.

*looks to the right*

*looks to the left*

*sips from his flask*

Mmmmm.... conventions.

Silver Crusade

Boons, Free Stuff, and Special Event Scenarios(For the Boons)

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Well, I go to conventions to enjoy the show; even if I wasn't involved with PFS, I would still want to go Gen Con and PAX East and other such fun events. PFS gives me another option on my plate of convention enjoyment. For me, it's also nice to be able to GM my way into a badge (though I've done good old fashioned staffing before as well). The boons and prize support are nice extras, but I would be going to the convention anyway.

Liberty's Edge 3/5 5/5 **** Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha

In a word?

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS! Wait, that is three words..

But being serious, to hang with other people who share some of the same interests as I do.

But I don't DM, just play.

Grand Lodge 3/5

jon dehning wrote:
Divvox2 wrote:
Hmm wrote:

I am thinking about attending Paizo Con for the first time next year, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me about Tier 1 GMing.

As to why I'm thinking of going, it's because of some of the wonderful people I've met in play by post. I'd love for a chance to meet them in person.

I haven't done it myself, but several of my close friends have. Here's the sneak peak they gave me concerning their time as a GM...

  • You live in the ballroom: You get out at about 12:30, start around 7-8am, and get an hour (or a little less) per meal.
  • You get a free hotel: to share with 3 other people because they couldn't put cots in the ballroom.
  • You get a credit at their booth: I think it's 50+ bucks worth?
  • You get a shirt: yay shirt!
  • Everybody loves you: because they recognize that your commitment is bonkers and they appreciate it.
  • You get a boon to play the most recent highly restricted races: I've seen grippli, damphier, skinwalkers, and samsarans show up on these things.
  • You get about 6 hours to explore the con: make a shopping list!

The bold sections are incorrect.

Paizocon does not offer free hotel rooms.

With the schedule change implemented last year the afternoon slots are open gaming, ie, there are no scheduled PFS games so every GM will have those slots free. There has been no word if this will remain or change for 2016.

Whoops. I saw Gencon and mentally latched onto that. All of my comments were specific to Gencon. I'm glad to hear that people get some breaks, but I didn't hear about anything like that. Is that at Paizocon only? There were still 3 sessions a day at Gencon which doesn't leave much time between sessions.

Dark Archive 5/5 5/5

Divvox2 wrote:
jon dehning wrote:
Divvox2 wrote:
Hmm wrote:

I am thinking about attending Paizo Con for the first time next year, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me about Tier 1 GMing.

As to why I'm thinking of going, it's because of some of the wonderful people I've met in play by post. I'd love for a chance to meet them in person.

I haven't done it myself, but several of my close friends have. Here's the sneak peak they gave me concerning their time as a GM...

  • You live in the ballroom: You get out at about 12:30, start around 7-8am, and get an hour (or a little less) per meal.
  • You get a free hotel: to share with 3 other people because they couldn't put cots in the ballroom.
  • You get a credit at their booth: I think it's 50+ bucks worth?
  • You get a shirt: yay shirt!
  • Everybody loves you: because they recognize that your commitment is bonkers and they appreciate it.
  • You get a boon to play the most recent highly restricted races: I've seen grippli, damphier, skinwalkers, and samsarans show up on these things.
  • You get about 6 hours to explore the con: make a shopping list!

The bold sections are incorrect.

Paizocon does not offer free hotel rooms.

With the schedule change implemented last year the afternoon slots are open gaming, ie, there are no scheduled PFS games so every GM will have those slots free. There has been no word if this will remain or change for 2016.

Whoops. I saw Gencon and mentally latched onto that. All of my comments were specific to Gencon. I'm glad to hear that people get some breaks, but I didn't hear about anything like that. Is that at Paizocon only? There were still 3 sessions a day at Gencon which doesn't leave much time between sessions.

Ain't no thing with a chicken wing.

Your list is pretty accurate for GenCon. You receive $10 store credit per slot GM'd so the amount of credit is flexible, not a fixed amount.

PaizoCon made a switch from three to four days this past year. The first three days the middle slot (1-6) had no official PFS sessions scheduled. I do not know if this will continue in 2016 or not. GenCon is still the 16 hour grind we all know and love.

Sovereign Court 5/5 RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

What brings me to Origins?

1) It's local. I go home sleep in my own bed, shower, shave, and head back.

2) Therapy. With my SAD (and a little bit of PTSD it seems) Surviving a Con is 'stretching the muscles' unfortuantely for the forseeable future, I won't be doing GenCon, but Origins I can do for reason 1 above.

3) Meeting people. I've met Paizo staff, and (more importantly) people from the boards, and complete strangers.

4) Relaxed people. I was told years ago by a Catalyst rep that GenCon was a working Con, but Origins is more a relaxing Con. That seems to hold true.

5) Loot. I've actually given a few boons away to new players. I get them at Origins for GMing.

6) Stories. Both hearing new ones and starting them. For example, most of our local GMs now do Shielia Heidmarch as a raspy smoker's cough voice, thanks to Race for the runecarved key at Origins a few years ago, and I love to spring my "short Kathy Bates" version of Janeria on new people who play the Confirmation. Cons are great for seeing how others do it.

Scarab Sages 4/5 **

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path Subscriber

The original poster's question was "what brings you to a convention". I think this side-tracked into "what brings Tier 1 GMs to GenCon and PaizoCon"

I've been to, played and GM'd for, and even hosted a few small conventions. Here's my thoughts and experience:

1. it's about maximizing game time and minimizing costs.
a. How many slots and days are available for gaming (whether you GM or play). If you choose a holiday weekend (out here in the bay area, we have Dundracon President's Day weekend, Kublacon Memorial Day weekend, and Pacificon Labor Day weekend). Those are some of the best three-day weekends that (for most workers in the U.S.) do not cost a vacation day.

b. How far away is it? Because travel time is time spent on the convention that is not spent gaming. If your convention is conveniently located, that will pull in more people. Big cities, cities with airports, helps. I live on the West Coast - so going to GenCon costs me about 1.5 days in travel time (so two more vacation days not spent gaming). OTOH, going to the three conventions above costs me 30min-80min per day, unless I stay at the hotel.

c. How many slots per day (and total slots)? Some conventions might only run two PFS games per day, or only two days. That can be a good draw for locals, but not for people far away. Gamers are less likely to spend time and travel dollars for a six-game event than a ten-game event.

d. How easy is it to share costs (Room and Travel expenses)? If your convention (or local gamers or PFS group) has a good meet-up board where folks can find roommates or travel buddies, that is a huge boon. Travel expenses are Gaming expenses not spent directly on gaming!

e. Comp's. Most conventions will comp your badge if you GM a certain number of slots. They may also comp your room if you GM a whole bunch. Realistically, unless you like or love GMng, this isn't much of a motivator (most people are there to play, not GM - so only a small percentage of gamers take advantage of it. For most players, giving up 1/3 to 1/2 of your game time for a $40-$60 entry badge is a poor trade - especially if you value your time as worth more than $6/hour. In my experience, people that like to GM like to GM - and they'll happily do it at a convention just like a gameday. But it is important to Acknowledge and Reward your GMs, because that Acknowledgement and Reward can mean the difference between your GMs running 1-2 slots each and running 3-4 slots each.

2. Unique and Attractive Gaming Opportunities
a. More than anything, it's getting to play in an event you cannot play elsewhere that is a draw. Usually, this is special adventures or multi-table events. but it's also Modules (easier to schedule at a convention than a game day), older scenarios you missed (because a wider audience means being more likely to find 3-5 other people to play it with), or odd games it's hard to find payers for (CORE campaign, ACG).

b. Meeting new people (or catching up with people you haven't seen in a while). Back in the 2000's, I had some people I'd game with across the country - I'd see them once or twice a year and we'd enjoy a game or two together.

c. Boons! Yes, there is swag at Conventions. For GMs and Players. I'll admit, it's not that big of a deal for me personally. The really really good boons are really only available at GenCon for a lucky few (or PaizoCon).

d. Learn new Things! When you play with players and GMs you've never met before you learn new things. Sometimes it's new GMng tricks, cool ways to use game-elements. Sometimes you learn you were wrong about a rule and update yourself. Local gaming tends to suffer from "inbreeding" where you've all seen the same stuff a bunch of times. At a big convention, you get to "shake up the gene pool."

Anyway, that's my 200cents. I would say the Min/Max time/costs is the most important way to draw people in (if you're looking to start or grow a convention). Item #2 is mostly advice and selling points to players considering going to a convention.

Community / Forums / Organized Play / Pathfinder Society / What brings you to a convention? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in Pathfinder Society